Liberia and Singapore, a contrast.

In September 2006 I arrived in Liberia to begin my first term. I was sick with malaria, challenged with lack of vision, and frustrated by inconveniences of daily living. In October 2010 I arrived in Singapore to begin my first official term with WorldVenture. I am refreshed from 40 days of rest, visiting friends and ministry partners, clear with vision and a sense of purpose, and amazed at the effective infrastructure of this modern city.

But as I get adjusted to life in Singapore I find that I have one thing that I didn't have when I arrived in Liberia. I didn't have Liberia. It's funny, but everything that I experienced in Liberia that I labeled as "frustrating," "inconvenient," or "annoying," is now part of the framework of my expectations. As I left my three-week visit in Liberia behind me to make a permanent home here in Singapore, I had a team of friends, ministry partners, fellow teachers, students, and colleagues come to the little guest house in Mount Barclay, gather around me, and pray me forward.

Liberia and Singapore may seem like they have nothing in common. But to me, what God did in my heart in Liberia is a part of what I do here in Southeast Asia.

An Inspiring Message

"Obstacles have become challenges to overcome and stumbling blocks have become steppingstones," Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf proclaimed at the University of Minnesota's Northrop Auditorium Friday.

The first President I have ever seen in person, Madam Sirleaf inspired the entire crowd of 5,000 People. Whitney and Sarah and I stood in the rush line hoping to get tickets to the sold out presentation. Thankfully, a few tickets found their way into our hands.

What inspired me the most was the list of improvements Sirleaf oversaw through her Presidency since 2006. Many politicians can tell you about the positive change their leadership has caused, but in the case of President Sirleaf, I've seen it.

I was in Liberia in 2006 and saw the state of the war-torn country. Bullet holes polka dotted each streetlight skeleton, potholes dimpled every road, and the people were hard-faced, abrasive, and gave you reason to fear a trip into town.

Now things are different. I was just there one month ago. Though pockets of local crime still exist, the people are filled with hope. Functioning streetlights now line the smooth roads in Monrovia and the people are looking to the future with a smiles on their faces. Liberia has been transformed.

I believe Madam Sirleaf has the hand of God on her, granting her favor among her people and success in policy implementation. She is an inspiration for me to persevere, never give up, and keep trusting in our Living Heavenly Father.

Circumnavigate Log #5

Circumnavigate Advice #3 Ask questions.

It was midnight at Robertsfield International Airport outside of Monrovia, Liberia. Having arrived at the airport with plenty of time for my flight, I was in no rush. However, I should have asked the question, "where should I go next?"

Never before has the airport in Liberia required an airport tax. In the US they area all factored into the price of the ticket. But I am familiar with how to pay them after flying through Bangkok a few years before. After receiving my boarding pass I proceeded to emigration and the health inspection and a second security point before reaching the gate. It was then they told me I had to pay the airport tax. You pay the airport tax after getting your boarding pass.

No problem, I just walked back and payed the $5. But then I faced the line before me. Because of the narrow hallway, I couldn't bypass the 20 minute wait for the emigration and heath inspection stations. At the front of the line, the man looked at me and said, "Why are you waiting here? You can just go right on up?"

Next time, I'll ask.

Circumnavigate Advice #4 Be assertive.

Liberia can be a rough place on the surface. After two years there, you learn how to be assertive. I mistakenly assumed that in Singapore, the people would be gentle, soft-spoken, and kind. I was correct that they are a kind people, but I needed to engage my assertiveness a bit more as I tried to get a taxi. "Do you know where the cove is on Sentosa Island?" I graciously asked 15 consecutive taxi drivers.

"No, that's a new development; I can't help you," was their unanimous response.

A passerby pointed me to the direction of the train station to Sentosa Island. Grateful that I only had two light bags, I walked through a supermarket, a mall, up an escalator to the third floor, down three flights of stairs dead ending in a room where a three Singaporeans were changing, back up the stairs, across a patio I had missed earlier, through sliding glass doors that I mistook for windows, around a corner to the Sentosa Express ticket counter.

I wasn't on the train for more than 5 minutes and we arrived at Sentosa beach. "Take the yellow bus to the second stop," Someone explained to me. "Walk back two blocks to and then get on the orange bus to the cove. Then take the gray bus to the condo where you are going."

By the time I departed from the yellow bus, the orange busses had stopped running for the night. I called Ed Attema, who had expected me an hour earlier and he got on his bike and met me. We walked the remaining mile toward their condo.

I can't tell you how good that shower felt. Bucket baths aside, it was the first one I had had in two weeks.

Circumnavigate Log #4

March 6, 2009

Five thousand miles can seem like inches. Yesterday, March 5, 2009, a group of Liberian children gathered around a cell phone to answer questions posed by 4^th graders from Calvin Christian School on the other side of the ocean.

Two weeks can seem like minutes. I’ve been back here in Liberia for almost two weeks yet it feels like I just arrived. What was a full suitcase of gifts and letters for Liberian children now is filling with pictures and letters to kids in the States. My time has been spent hanging out with the kids, doing small service jobs, receiving the container, leading an LIB Excellent Bible Study, and encouraging everyone with how they have been used by God to make Liberia into a better place.

Frustrating challenges can seem endearing. What bothered me about living here two years ago: the bucket baths, the lack of electricity, the intense heat, the abrasive culture; have become enjoyable adventures.

A slimy bug can taste like a special desert. One afternoon a few of the boys brought me a Liberian Delicacy. “You can tell how old it is by how many lines are on its back” Nanetoe proceeded to explain. Nine brown dashes segmented the white pulsating abdomen of the Termite queen. Fried with a little butter, it tasted like a buttery egg Quiche.

An amateur school startup can look like a sophisticated operation. The King’s Arms Academy has a terrific administrative team that transformed its third year from a Western-run missionary school to a Liberian-run, effective, Christian school.

A nerdy first grader can transform into an inspired young adult. I wrote an earlier blog entry about Nathan’s vision of heaven. He dreamt that he met Jesus and 1000 people that had come to Christ because of his witness. On February 27, I asked Nathan, “Do you remember the dream that you had before I left?”

“Yes, and I’ve started doing it,” he replied.

“Oh? Tell me.”

Nathan chuckled.

“How have you started doing it?” I repeated.

“When it is time to pray and no one is praying, I tell them to pray. I remind them to pray.”

“Tell me more.”

“Soon, I will go into the bush and tell them to repent and confess their sins to Jesus to be saved.”

Life on this earth can taste a little bit like heaven.

Around the World in 33 Days

A while back I read Jules Verne's classic, Around the World In 80 days. I loved the idea of traveling to a variety of places, meeting numerous people in a multitude of contexts, and literally circumnavigate the globe. In 2006 I began a journey that ended 11 months later traveling from West to East. On February 18 I will depart again, returning 33 days later, this time going East to West.

Although traveling excites me, it is not my motivation.

My purpose in West Africa is to encourage the nationals running the ministry at the King's Arms Academy. My departure from Liberia nearly one year ago was with uncertainty and confusion. Since I have left, I have received word that my Liberian brothers and sisters have assumed all of the responsibilities to running a school and are doing a terrific job of it. I am proud of them. They need to hear that from me in person.

My purpose in Southeast Asia is more visionary in nature. From my desire to work among children and encourage educators in a variety of Southeast Asian contexts, it would most economical to be based in a central Southeast Asian location. From this side of the planet, Singapore and Chiang Mai have looked like excellent choices. However, since I have not been to either of these places, a trip to check things out, establish connections, and learn first hand is in line.

In 33 days, here's the itinerary:

February 18: Travel Day: Minneapolis, Chicago, London

February 19-21: United Kingdom

February 22: Travel Day: London, Casablanca, Monrovia

February 23-March 8: Liberia

March 9-10: Travel Days: Monrovia, Casablanca, London, Singapore

March 11-16: Singapore

March 17-21: Chiang Mai, Thailand

March 22: Travel Day: Singapore, Chicago, Minneapolis

Detail

Memories of Liberia

Dream Big

Nathan is a life that is changed.

On a Sunday afternoon, my much-needed nap was interrupted with a "tap, tap, tap," outside my window. With my departure from Liberia quickly approaching, I did not want to take time to talk to Nathan, who sometimes talked for the pleasure of hearing his own voice. But when, with tears in his eyes, he said, "Teacher Stone, can I talk to you for a minute," I knew there was nothing more important than what Nathan had to say.

When I dream of heaven, I see kids there from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation worshiping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I see kids that I shared Christ with standing with those they shared Christ with who brought their friends.

"I had a vision last night," Nathan began. "I was standing in a white, white place. And Jesus was there. And there were one thousand people standing behind me. I turned and asked one of them, 'why are you here?' And they said, 'because you told us.'"

There were days in Liberia I wanted to give up. I wanted to go home. There were days I was convinced I was having no impact.

But that wasn't true.

God is faithful. He used me to do His work that honors Himself. Nathan is a part of my dream. I see his face and his one thousand others standing there too. But Nathan isn't the only one I know. There are more kids. And the kids aren't just from Liberia either.

Dream big.